Synopsis
MAYa's "we shall not disappear" unfolds as an impressionistic portrait of the body in dialogue with the natural world. Sensual close-ups of skin, hair, textures, and plant life are arranged in carefully lit tableaux, creating a dreamlike tension between vulnerability and endurance. Rather than following a conventional narrative, the video moves through fragmented images that suggest transformation, ritual, and resistance. The result resembles a high-fashion surrealist photo shoot brought to life, with the music's sparse, uneasy atmosphere shaping every visual transition.
Factoids & Trivia
- The video was filmed over four months, using both a studio and locations in upstate New York.
- Its imagery was inspired in part by self-inflicted beauty regimens, giving the work an uneasy perspective on beauty, grooming, and physical control.
- The production emphasizes sensual close-ups and visual pairings between the female form and nature instead of performance footage or a linear storyline.
- The song combines cello with lightly played dulcimer and hushed vocals. Alex Waterman is credited with cello, while Sebastian Mlynarski contributed percussion.
- "we shall not disappear" premiered online in February 2014 as part of MAYa's video-only project "a." The track was not issued digitally until 2019.
- MAYa's four-release project used the sequence "Y," "A," "M," and "a," with each installment built around four songs and a distinct release format.